Chiesi signs $1.9B deal to acquire KalVista and its approved drug

Kyle LaHucik / endpoints - Chiesi is buying commercial biotech KalVista Pharmaceuticals for about $1.9 billion in an extension of the industry's vigorous spring shopping spree. The Italian pharma will pay $27 per share {$KALV} in cash to buy the ...

AI Summary: Chiesi Group agreed to buy KalVista for $1.9 billion to secure an approved therapy and expand its rare-disease footprint. The deal transfers marketed assets and R&D capacity, positioning Chiesi to scale rare-disease revenues and invest in next-wave therapeutics — essentially a big check for a bigger strategic play.

Avalyn Pharma Takes a Breath to Raise $300M in IPO Cash for Lung Drug Trials

Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - Avalayn Pharma found strong investor interest in its inhalable drugs in development for two types of pulmonary fibrosis, enabling the company to upsize its IPO. Data from two mid-stage studies are expected in 2027. The post Avalyn Pharma Takes a Breath to…

AI Summary: Avalyn Pharma has substantially increased its IPO, targeting roughly $300 million to bankroll late-stage trials of its respiratory drug candidate. The move reflects strong investor enthusiasm for lung‑disease therapeutics and gives the company a bigger war chest to advance programs previously dependent on venture capital and partnerships.

Preclinical evaluation of antisense oligonucleotide therapy in a mouse model of HNRNPH2-related neurodevelopmental disorder

Ane Korff, Xiaojing Yang, Ozan Ozdemir, Ananya Samanta, Yong-Dong Wang, Tushar Patni, Alfonso J. Lav / science - Science Translational Medicine, Volume 18, Issue 846, April 2026.

AI Summary: Researchers report that antisense oligonucleotide therapy reversed neurological deficits in mouse models of HNRNPH2‑related neurodevelopmental disorder. The preclinical results provide a targeted mechanism to correct pathogenic RNA processing, moving a once‑untreatable condition toward a plausible therapeutic path — pending the usual caution about translating mice to humans.

Erectile disorder: How science is moving beyond Viagra

medicalxpress - Erectile disorder (ED) refers to a persistent difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfying sexual activity. It affects millions of men worldwide, including up to 1 in 4 in the United States. Beyond physical functioning, erecti…

AI Summary: Researchers are advancing alternatives to sildenafil-era approaches for erectile disorder, exploring new biological targets and therapies that aim to restore function rather than just patch symptoms. The coverage explains emerging mechanisms, investigational treatments and the shifting clinical landscape—because sometimes a Band-Aid on performance isn’t the long-term plan.

Eugene Braunwald, Whose Research Reshaped Cardiology, Dies at 96

Jonathan Kandell / nytimes - His work changed how doctors understood heart attacks, heart failure and coronary artery disease, and helped lead to therapies that saved millions of lives.

AI Summary: Eugene Braunwald, a towering figure whose research reshaped modern cardiology, has died at 96. Colleagues remember his seminal contributions to cardiac physiology, therapeutics, and clinical practice that set the stage for decades of advances. His passing marks the end of an era for a field he helped steer.

WHO approves first malaria treatment for infants

medicalxpress - The World Health Organization announced Friday that it had given prequalification approval to a malaria treatment for newborns and infants for the first time.

AI Summary: The World Health Organization has cleared the first malaria treatment specifically for infants, granting prequalification that paves the way for broader procurement and use in endemic countries. Regulators' sign-off targets a vulnerable age group long underserved by effective pediatric therapies, potentially speeding distribution through global health channels and donor programs.

FDA approves 1st 2-drug HIV treatment

Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - The FDA has approved Merck’s once-daily, two-drug regimen for adults with virologically suppressed HIV-1. The treatment combines 100 mg doravirine and 0.25 mg islatravir and is indicated for patients with no history of virologic treatment failure and no k…

AI Summary: The FDA has approved Merck’s once‑daily two‑drug antiretroviral regimen, marking a notable market entrant poised to compete with established single‑pill therapies. Regulators cleared the novel combination on efficacy and safety data, setting up potential shifts in prescribing, pricing and competition — and giving Gilead something new to grumble about.

Moderna, after losing US funding, rebounds to start mRNA bird flu vaccine trial

Kristin Jensen / healthcaredive - A program that got caught up in HHS’ decision to abandon mRNA research was revived by a public-private coalition and is now beginning a large, late-stage test that could support a future approval.

AI Summary: Moderna has initiated a clinical trial of an mRNA vaccine targeting a potentially pandemic bird‑flu strain, joining global efforts to have a rapid‑response countermeasure ready. Regulators and public‑health experts hail the move as sensible pre‑emptive science—because nothing says “we planned for this” like testing the vaccine before the outbreak arrives.

340B drug discounts are drifting from patients to profit, and reform is now on the table

medicalxpress - The 340B Drug Pricing Program must be reformed to better patient health and disincentivize institutional profit-seeking behaviors, says the American College of Physicians (ACP). In a new policy, "Reforming 340B to Promote Program Integrity and Better Serv…

AI Summary: The 340B drug-discount program is under renewed scrutiny after analyses and advocacy groups argue discounts intended to help patients are instead boosting institutional margins. Hospitals, provider groups and the AHA are contesting HRSA proposals and court rulings, sparking policy debates and potential regulatory fixes to curb markups and steer savings back to vulnerable patients.

Long-term Use of Immunotherapy May Be Safe for Patients With Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

Kathleen Medora / aacr - SAN DIEGO – Long-term adverse events were rare and manageable among patients with alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), which primarily affects adolescents and young adults, who received immunotherapy beyond the standard two years, according to results from …

AI Summary: Observational data indicate extended checkpoint inhibitor therapy can be tolerated by patients with alveolar soft part sarcoma and may provide sustained disease control for many. The findings support considering prolonged treatment in select cases, while underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring for late toxicities and randomized trials to confirm benefit.

Three gene therapy pioneers just won the Breakthrough Prize. This is their story

Ryan Cross / endpoints - A trio of scientists behind the first gene therapy approved in the United States have been awarded a Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. It’s arguably one of the most prominent recognitions yet for the field ...

AI Summary: Three gene‑therapy researchers received the Breakthrough Prize in recognition of foundational work that enabled the first CRISPR-based sickle cell therapy. The award highlights decades of basic and translational research that turned genome editing from lab curiosity into a tangible clinical remedy, with winners sharing a multimillion‑dollar prize and public acclaim.